Bed pan device



"D 1969 F. J. BICKENHEUSER, JR 3,434,874

BED PAN DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 39, 1966 y Frank J.B/ckenheuseqw;

6U ATTORNEY DO'PWM BED PAN DEVICE Filed Sept. 30 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2I2 /a w INVENTOR. Frank J B/C/Qhhfluilfln ATTORNEY United States Patent3,484,874 BED PAN DEVICE Frank J. Bickenheuser, Jr., P.0. Box 2568,Tulsa, Okla. 73101 Filed Sept. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 583,208

Int. Cl. A61g 9/00 US. Cl. 4-112 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Inthe care of bed ridden patients it is well known that the handling anduse of a bed pan presents many problems for both the attendant or nurseand the patient. At the present time, the most usual manner of use of abed pan comprises the placing of the pan beneath the patient for use,and removing the pan subsequent to use thereof. The removed pan isnormally covered with a suitable cloth, or the like, and transported tothe proper disposal facilities for disposal of the contents. The panmust then be sterilized prior to use with another patient. This is notonly a distasteful procedure for both the patient and attendant, butalso is considered to be somewhat unsanitary in that germs may often bespread from one patient to another from this type of handling of bodywastematerials. The usual manipulation of a patient dur ing placing ofthe patient on a bed pan frequently results in the dislodging of anyneedle or the like, which may be fastened or secured to the patient,such as for supplying blood or intravenous feeding or the like. This isvery unpleasant for both the patient and attendant. Furthermore, theusual bed pan in use today requires substantially constant attention tothe patient during the use thereof and the sterilizing procedure is bothexpensive and time consuming which is a great disadvantage, particularlyin the light of the critical shortage of nurses and qualified medical orhospital personnel today.

The present invention contemplates a novel bed pan device particularlydesigned and constructed for overcoming the above disadvantages. Thenovel device comprises a substantially fiat base member adapted fordisposition on the upper surface of a bed. A relatively flat seatingportion having a central aperture is disposed on the upper surface ofthe base member and can be elevated or lowered with respect thereto. Adisposable receptacle is removably secured in the aperture and remainssubstantially flat in the lowered position of the seat but sags to forma waste receiving chamber upon elevation of the seating portion. Theseating portion may be alternately raised and lowered in any well knownmanner, and preferably is actuated by means of a suitable hand crankmechanism extending beyond the outer confines of the bed. A backsupporting member is also provided for the device and may be elevatedinto a position against the back of the patient as desired forsupporting the patient in a substantially upright sitting positionduring utilization of the bed pan device.

In order to install and use the apparatus, the patient may be rolled orotherwise moved to one side of the bed by a hospital attendant, or thelike, whereby the apparatus may be disposed on the upper surface of thebed. The patient may then be rolled or moved into a position on thedevice subsequent to installation thereof on the bed. When the patientis properly orientated with respect to the seating portion and backsupport device, the seating portion may be elevated to the desired3,484,874 Patented Dec. 23, 1969 position, preferably through a distanceof approximately six inches. The back support may be disposed adjacentthe patients back for supporting him in a sitting position, and asuitable seat belt, similar to safety belts utilized in automobiles, maybe secured around the body of the patient for securely retaining him inposition on the elevated seating portion. As the seating portion iselevated, the disposable receptacle will sag in the central aperture toprovide a chamber for receiving the body waste materials from thepatient. The patient may be left in this position unattended until sucha time as he is through with the use of the device. The attendant maythen easily remove the disposable receptacle, lower the seating portionand back support for lowering the patient onto the surface of the bed.The device may then be easily removed from the bed.

The used receptacle and contents may be dropped into the usual watercloset for disposal. The material from which the receptacle isconstructed is dissolvable in Water, and thus facilitates the disposalof the entire bag and contents. Of course, one side of the receptacle iscoated with a suitable wax whereby the receptacle is dissolvable fromone side only. The dissolvable side of the receptacle is the outer side,whereby the bag will dissolve upon being dropped into the water in thewater closet or other disposal of facility. The wax coating may bequickly and easily flushed away with the contents of the receptacle upondissolving of the outer material of the bag.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel bed panstructure for use with bed ridden patients and which is particularlydesigned for reducing time and labor required for use thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel bed pan structurewhich may be utilized in a manner substantially conforming to the normaltoilet facilities, thus increasing the efficiency thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel bed panstructure which reduces the time required in attendance by nursingpersonnel, and the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel bed panstructure having a disposable container in combination therewith forgreatly increasing the sanitary conditions of use of the device.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a noveldisposable container for use with a bed pan device and which is alsodissolvable for facilitating disposal of the container and contentssubsequent to use of the bed pan device.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a noveldisposable container for use with a bed pan device which is dissolvablefrom one side only for facilitating the use and disposal thereof.

Other and further objects and advantageous features of the presentinvention will hereinafter more fully appear in connection with adetailed description of the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a bed pan device embodying theinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a bed pan device embodying the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a bed having a bed pan device as depicted inFIGURES 1 through 3 disposed thereon.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a seating portion embodying amodified form of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a receptacle embodying the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional elevational view taken on line 3 7-7 of FIGURE6, and enlarged in thickness for purposes of illustration.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly FIGURES 1 through4, reference character 10 generally indicates a bed pan devicecomprising a substantially fiat base plate portion 12 and a movableseating portion 14 carried thereby. The base member 12 may be removablysecured to the upper surface of a bed 16, or the like, in any suitablemanner, and as depicted herein a plurality of straps 18 may be pivotallysecured to the base 12, with one strap 18 being secured to each cornerthereof. The base plate 12 is preferably constructed of a strong,sturdy, light weight material, such as aluminum or other metallic plate,and the straps 18 may be made of metal, plastic, fabric, or any othersuitable material. It is preferable to provide means (not shown) at theouter end of each strap 18 for clamping over or otherwise engaging theopposite sides of the bed 16 whereby the plate 12 may be substantiallycentrally disposed on the bed 16 as shown in FIGURE 4, and securelyretained in position thereon. The pivotal connection of the straps 18with the plate 12 permits adjustment of the angular position of thestraps 18 in order to facilitate securing of the device 10 to a bed 16of substantially any width.

The seating portion 14 is substantially flat and may be of any desiredconfiguration, as is well known, for providing comfort for a patientsitting or otherwise resting thereon. As depicted herein, the seatingmember 14 is substantially annular, but of a slightly oval configurationand is provided with a central aperture 20 for removably receiving areceptacle 22, as will be hereinafter set forth in detail. However, itis to be understood that the overall configuration of the seat 14 may beof a biforcated type structure, or any other well known structure forthis type of device. The Seating portion 14 is preferably substantiallycentrally disposed with respect to the upper or exposed surface 24 ofthe plate 12 and can be elevated or lowered with respect thereto. It isto be understood that any suitable type of structure or mechanism may beutilized for alternately raising and lowering the seat 14, and there isno intention to limit the invention to the particular combination ofelements depicted herein.

As shown in FIGURES 1 through 4, the seat 14 is supported by a pair oftransversely extending lifting arms 26 and 28, and it is preferable thatthe seating portion 14 is rigidly secured to the arms 26 and 28 forproviding a stability to the device 10 during the use thereof. The arms26 and 28 extend beyond one side of the seating portion 14 asparticularly shown in FIGURE 2. The

arms 26 and 28 terminate in apertured enlarged portions 30 and 32,respectively, each for receiving a suitable ball nut 34. The arms 26 and28 are rigidly secured to the respective ball nuts 34 and each ball nut34 is threadedly secured to a ball screw 36 whereby rotation of thescrews 36 in one direction will cause the nuts to move upwardly, asviewed in the drawings, and rotation of the screws 36 in an oppositedirection will cause the nuts to move downwardly. Of course, the arms 26and 28 are rigidly secured to the respective ball nuts 34 and moveupwardly and downwardly simultaneously therewith. The ball screws 36 andball nuts 34 may be of any suitable well known type which are used inapplications wherein substantially frictionless movement is required.

As particularly shown in FIGURE 3, the screws 36 are preferably disposedwithin a housing 38 which may be either integral with the base plate 12,as depicted herein, or suitably secured thereto. The housing 38comprises a pair of spaced upwardly extending sidewalls 40 and 42, apair of upwardly extending end walls 44 and 46 and an upper cover 47which form a substantially closed box type structure. One sidewall, forexample the wall 42 is provided with a pair of spaced substantiallyparallel slots 48 and 50 for slidably receiving the arms 26 and 28,respectively, therethrough.

The screws 36. are disposed in substantial planar alignment within thehousing 38 and are suitably journaled therein for rotation. For example,as shown in FIGURE 3, the lower end of each screw 36 is journaled in theplate 12 by means of a bearing member 52 (only one of which is shown)and the upper end of each screw 36 is similarly journaled in the cover47 by means of a bearing member 54. Each screw 36 is provided with agear member 56 which may be keyed or otherwise secured in the proximityof the upper end thereof for simultaneous rotation therebetween. A drivegear 58 (FIGURE 2) is journaled to the upper cover 47 in any suitablemanner (not shown) and is centrally disposed between the screws 36whereby both gears 56 will be engaged by the gear 58 for simultaneousrotation thereby. The drive gear 58, in turn, is driven by a bevel gear60, or the like, as is well known. The gear 60 may be carried by a shaft62 which extends between the sidewalls 40 and42 and is journaled forrotation in any well known manner, such as a bushing or bearing 64, orthe like. The shaft 62 preferably extends beyond the sidewall 40 forreceiving a suitable bell crank device 66 which may be manually operatedin the usual manner for transmitting rotation to the shaft 62. Ofcourse, the gear 60 is keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 62 forrotation simultaneously therewith.

As the bell crank device 66 is utilized for rotation of the shaft 62,the gear 60 will be rotated for transmitting rotation to the drive gear58. The gear 58 transmits rotation to the gears 56 whereby the gears 56rotate in a common direction and in synchronization. The screws 36 arethus rotated in a common direction and at a common speed by therespective gears 56. Rotation of the screws 36 in one direction causesthe ball nuts 34 to rise or move upwardly along the respective screws36, as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 3. The upward movement of the nuts 34causes the arms 26 and 28 to move upwardly in unison for elevating theseating portion 14 with respect to the base 12. Of course, rotation ofthe screws 36 in an opposite direction causes the ball nuts 34 to movedownwardly whereby the arms 26 and 28 move downwardly for lowering theseating portion 14 with respect to the base member. The upward movementof the seating portion 14 is limited by the engagement of the arms 26and 28 with the upper closed ends of the slots 48 and 50, respectively,and the downward movement of the seat 14 is limited by the engagement ofthe arms 26 and 28 with the upper surface 24 of the plate 12. Of course,other stop means may be provided for limiting the movement of theseating portion 14, if desired. In addition, whereas the upper surfaceof the cover 47 as depicted herein is substantially flat, it is to beunderstood that the surface thereof may be concave, if desired, in orderto provide a cradle for receiving one arm of the patient therein duringuse of the device 10, as will be hereinafter set forth.

A back support device, generally indicated at 68, is provided forsupporting the back of a patient in a substantially upright sittingposition during use of the device 10. As shown in FIGURES 1 through 4,the back support 68 comprises a frame type structure 70 having atransversely extending back rest member 72 suitably secured thereon forengaging the back of the patent. The frame 70 may be pivotally securedto the base 12 as depicted herein and in any suitable manner, such asthe pivot pins 74 and 76, or may be similarly pivotally secured to theseating portion 14 itself. The back support 68 may be provided with anysuitable latching means for securing the frame 70 in any desired angularposition with respect to the base 12, and as shown herein a transverselyextending shank 78 carried by the frame 70 extends through an elongatedslot 80 provided in an arm 82 pivotally secured to the sidewall 42 at84. The pin 78 is slidable in the slot 80 and may be locked insubstantially any desired position therein in any suitable or Well knownmanner (not shown) for securing the frame 70 and back rest 72 in thedesired position for supporting the patient in a sitting position on theseat 14.

In order to use the device 10, the patient (not shown) may be rolled, orotherwise moved, to one side of the bed 16 and the plate 12 may bedisposed substantially in the center of the bed with the housing portionoppositely disposed with respect to the position of the patient. Theouter ends of at least two of the straps 18 may be anchored to one sideof the bed in any suitable manner, and the patient may be rolled ormoved onto the device 10, preferably with his back disposed in properalignment with the seat 14 and back support 68. The remaining two straps18 may then be suitably anchored to the opposite side of the bed wherebythe entire device Will be securely retained in position on the uppersurface of the bed. The bell crank mechanism may then be manuallyoperated in the usual manner for rotating the screw 36 in a directionfor elevating the seat 14, and patient disposed thereon. Of course, theback support structure 68 may be moved into a supporting position, ifdesired, whereby the patient will be supported in a substantiallyupright sitting position on the seat 14. It is preferable to anchor thebody of the patient to the apparatus by means of a belt (not shown) orthe like which may extend around the body of the patient and the backsupport structure 68 for holding the patient. Of course, the belt may beeither a separate item or may be suitably secured to the device 10 forconvenience.

As the seating portion 14 is elevated, the receptacle 22 will sagdownwardly in the aperture 20 to provide a chamber for: receiving bodywaste materials. Subsequent to placing the patient in the properposition on the device 10, the attendant may leave the patient untilsuch a time as the patient is through using the apparatus. The attendantthen may easily remove the receptacle 22 and drop the receptacle andcontents into a water closet, or the like, for disposal. The seat 14 maythen be lowered by manual operation of the bell crank 66 for rotatingthe screws 36 in an opposite direction. The back support 68 may also belowered, and the belt removed from the patient. The patient may then berolled to one side of the bed to facilitate removal of the device fromthe bed in a reverse manner as hereinbefore set forth with regard to thein stallation thereof.

It is to be noted that the upper surface of the cover 47 provides aconvenient arm rest for the patient. This is particularly important forpatients having needles, or the like, secured to the arm, such as forblood transfusion, or the like. The relatively small amount of movementrequired for the patient in order to use the device 10 substantiallyprecludes accidental dislodging of any needles, or the like, from thearm, and the provision of an arm rest also greatly reduces thepossibility of dislodging of the needles.

A modified form of the invention is schematically depicted in FIGURE 5wherein a base member 12a, similar to the base 12, may be providedhaving a movable seating portion 14a disposed thereabove. A plurality ofpivotal linkage members 90 may be interposed between the base member 12aand seat 14a whereby one link member of each linkage 90 is pivotallysecured between the base 12a and seat 14a as shown at 92 and 94, and thefree end of the other link member of each linkage member 90 is slidablysecured to the base 12a. A threaded shank or screw member 96 isinterposed between the base 12a and 14a and is connected to the linkagemembers 90 in such a manner that rotation of the screw 96 in onedirection will cause the linkage member 90 to pivot toward a folded orcollapsed position whereby the seating portion 14a will be raised withrespect to the base portion 12a, and rotation of the shank 96 in anopposite direction will cause the linkage members 90 to move toward asubstantially straight position whereby the seat- 6 12a. The utilizationof the modified device as shown in FIGURE 5 will be substantially ashereinbefore set forth with respect to the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

Of course, any suitable means may be provided for alternate raising andlowering of the seating portion 14. For example, hydraulically orpneumatically operated pistons may be utilized in lieu of the ballscrews and ball nuts. There is no intention of limiting the invention tothe mechanisms disclosed herein.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 and 7, the receptacle 22 is constructed froma suitable plastic-water soluble film in a thickness range of .001 gaugeto .0015 gauge, and is preferably the plastic-water soluble film made byUnion Carbide and sold under the name Radel POX. The plastic film ispreferably made in webs and one side of the sheet or web is sprayed witha wax in any well known manner to provide a complete and thoroughcoating of the said one side of the web. The wax coating is preferablyof the type manufactured by Sunray DX under the name M-l60. A waxsolvent is moved with the wax prior to the spraying or coating operationin order to provide more efiicient coating of the plastic film. The waxsolvent may be of any suitable type, such as toluene, trichlorideethylene, petrol naptha, or the like, but the petrol naphtha isconsidered preferable.

The coated plastic film may be cut into circular flat sheets or mainportions 97 in any well known manner (not shown) and an annular member98 is glued, or otherwise bonded around the outer periphery thereof. Thering 98 is preferably constructed from paper, or the like, such as iscommonly used in toilet seat covers today. The ring member 98 may beremovably secured to the seating portion 14 in any well known manner(not shown), such as by spring urged fingers, or the like, adjacent theunder surface of the seat. The circular sheet is of a size to permitfolding or pleating thereof in a manner similar to the well known icebag whereby the sheet will lie substantially flat (as shown in FIGURE 7)in the lowered position of the seat 14 but will sag in the raisedposition of the seat 14, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The interior surface of the receptacle 22 is the coated surface, and thewax coating will withstand temperatures up to 168 F. Since bodytemperatures do not reach this temperature, it will be apparent that thereceptacle 22 will retain body wastes during use of the device 10. Whenthe receptacle is removed from the device 10 and dropped into a watercloset, or the like, the water will dissolve the circular portion 97 andthe wax will be released in the water, as will the ring member 98. Theremains may be easily flushed away with relatively little possibility ofstoppage of the sewage facilities.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present inventionprovides a novel bed pan structure and disposable/dissolvable receptacletherefor which greatly facilitates the use of the bed pan device forpoth a patient and attendant. The novel bed pan structure includes aseating portion which may be elevated during use to provide for greatercomfort for the patient during use, and may be lowered for facilitatingplacing of a patient there on. In addition, a disposable/dissolvablereceptacle is provided for receiving the body wastes during use of thedevice. The receptacle greatly reduces hazards of germs, and the like,and may be readily discarded for disposal of both the bag and contents.The novel device is simple and efiicient in operation and economical anddurable in construction.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts asheretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, itbeing understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of theinvention may be made within the scope of the following claims, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A bed pan device comprising a base plate, a movable seating portioncarried by the base plate, means cooperating between the substantiallyhorizontal base plate and the seating portion to provide straightessentially vertical upward and vertical downward reciprocal movement ofthe seating portion with respect to the base plate so that the seatingportion remains substantially parallel to said base plate, stationaryarm support means carried by the base plate, back support meansadjustably secured to the base plate, and receptable means removablysecured to the seating portion for receiving waste material therein.

2. A bed pan device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means forraising and lowering the seating portion comprises ball screw and ballnut means, crank means for rotation of the ball screw whereby the ballnut is moved therealong, support means carried by the ball nut andmovable therewith, said support means engageable with the seatingportion for vertical reciprocation thereof simultaneously with the ballnut.

3. A bed pan device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the receptacle meansis both disposable and dissolvable.

4. A bed pan device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base plate isprovided with means for removably securing the device to the bed.

5. A bed pan device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the receptacle meansis constructed of a material which is soluble film of a thickness rangefrom .001 gauge to .0015 gauge, and having one side thereof coated witha wax solution capable of withstanding temperatures up to 168 F.

8. A disposable/dissolvable receptacle comprising a main portionconstructed from a plastic-water soluble plastic film, an annular membersecured around the outer periphery of the main portion for removablysecuring the receptacle to an apertured member, said plastic-watersoluble plastic film having one side thereof coated with a wax solutionwherein the film is dissolvable from one side only.

9. A disposable/dissolvable receptacle as set forth in claim 8 whereinthe wax solution is capable of withstanding temperatures in excess ofbody waste temperatures.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 735,135 8/1903 McLennan 4-1121,086,584 2/1914 Bown 4-112 1,229,240 6/1917 Day 4-112 1,650,261 11/1927Carlson 4'112 2,204,343 6/1940 Dawson 4-112 2,299,640 10/1942 Michon4-112 2,530,965 11/1950 Horn 4-112 2,713,688 7/1955 Johnson 4-1123,107,360 10/1963 Van Syoc et al 4-142 3,115,644 12/1963 Bloodworth4-112 3,263,241 8/1966 Saulson 4-112 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary ExaminerD. B. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner

